Usually, the choice of whether or not to use a click track is dependent on the song: Is a precise rhythm important? Will the click track detract from the energy of the song? Is editing and moving sections of audio around something I'll need to do for this project? Is there a live drummer?
In this particular situation, I have a longer song that starts out very slowly and then builds over three verses, then reaches a crescendo in the single chorus that's followed by a couple minutes of soloing. A full band slowly joins in over that time. I'll be recording this myself - this isn't a project with a band. (This song is part of my personal side-project album.)
I think that the song could benefit from a click track that kicks in later on in the song. However, the beginning of the song needs to be done very freely.
Here's my demo of the song, so you can get a feel for the arrangement. Please excuse the mediocre pitch-corrected vocals and errors.
This is fairly close to the feel I want, but it's too disorganized near the end - I think a click-track or sequenced drums will allow the guitar and bass to be in sync better, but since the first verses are in such free time, I won't know where to start them out.
Is there any way to do this short of a full band in the studio? I'd really prefer to avoid recording this in sections or editing the audio by hand after recording it. (Logic's flex-time is great for occasional timing errors, but not so much for a long song.)
I'm using Logic Express 9. I tend to track in Garageband, but can do it in Logic.